Matt. You deserve congratulations after each and every section completion. So ..congratulations... and bon chance for all the continued behueing of all the remaining geography.
A remarkable labour of love. I work in archives down here in Devon and we have a coloured copy of Rocque’s map of Exeter, which I’ve always assumed was original, indicating that some colour copies were printed.
Interesting. I’ve seen colour versions of some of Rocque’s other maps too. I imagine the is was quite expensive and tricky to do in the mid-18th century.
You’re approaching the fascinating White Chapel Mount - millimetres off on the eastern edge of the new map - an artificial hill almost opposite where Whitechapel station is. Mount Terrace is named for it. Nearby is the line of Fieldgate Street leading to Stepney church but - on this map - framed by an actual Field Gate. Wonder what that was for? Why did they need a gate?
Haha, yes... I did look specifically for that when I started colouring in the map and was disappointed to see that it's on the next one. I'll probably do a special article on the mount because, as you say, it's fascinating.
Couldn't the field-gate have the simplest explanation... just to stop livestock spilling out of the field onto the streets? Perhaps it was a particularly large or unusual gate, and so it got picked out as a name.
Thanks. Coincidently, I’m just editing a video walk I did across your map (Aldgate East to Whitechapel) and there is a lot I could write about in the accompanying article - St Mary’s, bells, the Elephant Man - but the Mount grabbed my attention. I’ll link to your map in the Substack post
I'm scratching my head a bit over this, but it looks as though Stoney Lane, off Petticoat Lane in 1746, and Gravel Lane, off Houndsditch - which sort of meet - have swapped names since then.
That's an excellent observation. I had a brief look on other old maps, and they're the same as Rocque up to at least 1900. My hunch is that both were extended, and then later cut back again, but the opposite way round to how they originated. More research needed, as they say.
Well done Matt. This is still my favourite part of London and it's great that I can now pour over your coloured-up Rocque map. I really hope that this map is published one day, either as a large format book or a huge folded map. D
Thanks David! I will definitely make it so. What I really want is to see it displayed on a wall somewhere. I do all this on a tiny laptop screen, so I can only imagine what it'd look like at full scale.
I've researched a lot of this area in creating a walk about Bengali migration and histories in the area, which extends way east and south and north of this chunk of map. What struck me in your map is how stately and geometrical Flower and Dean and Thral/Thrawl Streets look. Mostly areas later labelled slums arose in labyrinths of cul-de-sacs and courtyards, but here all is squared off as if we were in the west end. Recently I was walking in the latest development and architecture in that small area, which one might regard as inappropriate but I now think it harks back to 1746.
You're definitely right about the churches functioning as a way to orientate yourself. I can spot where my family were running an oil and tallow shop several decades later. Opposite St Leonard's, just a couple of doors south from the junction.
About the lack of water - there was a Holywell Streer in Shoreditch (or Holywell Something) but wasn't it a bit manky? And has now been lost to the railway?
Aha, sounds like where Bar Kick is now. Been in there a few times.
Yes, good point about Holywell. I think Holywell Street followed one of the feeder streams of the River Walbrook. There are hints of it on the map, but it was mostly covered over by this point.
Another fascinating article. I love the fact that you are engaging so closely with the map through the act of adding colour. Grateful to benefit from the fruits of your labour.
Your labour of love is a joy to pore over. I am attracted to Turnagain Lane! Do you know what Grus's Rents signifies - was Grus a landlord whose properties were there? Or something else? Would love to know!
Hiya Jo. Good spot. I think you’re right. It’s quite common to see so-and-so’s Rents on the map and I think they’re simply cheap lodgings belonging to the named landlord. It’s an odd name that one, and I can’t turn anything up in the newspaper archives. It may be a mis-spelling.
Any idea what the the ?church on the corner of Gravel and Stoney is? "PM" - M for meeting house of some sort? I don't know what abbreviations Rocque used.
Wonderful Wednesday has come- its Roque map day. It kind of has a Christmassy feel to it with tis red and green coloring . I have to say that The Dirty Lane is much improved by calling it Boundary Passage though the undersign is still a bit rude I would say. Chat GPT did an alright job making perfect little round trees. It has a purpose in small ,specific doses which you found.
Matt. You deserve congratulations after each and every section completion. So ..congratulations... and bon chance for all the continued behueing of all the remaining geography.
Hear, hear!
A remarkable labour of love. I work in archives down here in Devon and we have a coloured copy of Rocque’s map of Exeter, which I’ve always assumed was original, indicating that some colour copies were printed.
Rocque himself was a Huguenot, of course.
Interesting. I’ve seen colour versions of some of Rocque’s other maps too. I imagine the is was quite expensive and tricky to do in the mid-18th century.
You’re approaching the fascinating White Chapel Mount - millimetres off on the eastern edge of the new map - an artificial hill almost opposite where Whitechapel station is. Mount Terrace is named for it. Nearby is the line of Fieldgate Street leading to Stepney church but - on this map - framed by an actual Field Gate. Wonder what that was for? Why did they need a gate?
Haha, yes... I did look specifically for that when I started colouring in the map and was disappointed to see that it's on the next one. I'll probably do a special article on the mount because, as you say, it's fascinating.
Couldn't the field-gate have the simplest explanation... just to stop livestock spilling out of the field onto the streets? Perhaps it was a particularly large or unusual gate, and so it got picked out as a name.
Maybe the explanation!
I was also thinking of writing about it but I’ll delay mine until after yours!
Nah, go for it. It could be a year before I get round to that panel.
Thanks. Coincidently, I’m just editing a video walk I did across your map (Aldgate East to Whitechapel) and there is a lot I could write about in the accompanying article - St Mary’s, bells, the Elephant Man - but the Mount grabbed my attention. I’ll link to your map in the Substack post
Sheep?
I'm scratching my head a bit over this, but it looks as though Stoney Lane, off Petticoat Lane in 1746, and Gravel Lane, off Houndsditch - which sort of meet - have swapped names since then.
That's an excellent observation. I had a brief look on other old maps, and they're the same as Rocque up to at least 1900. My hunch is that both were extended, and then later cut back again, but the opposite way round to how they originated. More research needed, as they say.
Ah, perhaps one of those things meant to confuse Zeppelin pilots during the Great War.
Well done Matt. This is still my favourite part of London and it's great that I can now pour over your coloured-up Rocque map. I really hope that this map is published one day, either as a large format book or a huge folded map. D
Thanks David! I will definitely make it so. What I really want is to see it displayed on a wall somewhere. I do all this on a tiny laptop screen, so I can only imagine what it'd look like at full scale.
Just brilliant. Thank you for sharing your passion and effort.
I've researched a lot of this area in creating a walk about Bengali migration and histories in the area, which extends way east and south and north of this chunk of map. What struck me in your map is how stately and geometrical Flower and Dean and Thral/Thrawl Streets look. Mostly areas later labelled slums arose in labyrinths of cul-de-sacs and courtyards, but here all is squared off as if we were in the west end. Recently I was walking in the latest development and architecture in that small area, which one might regard as inappropriate but I now think it harks back to 1746.
Oooffff, so many trees!
You're definitely right about the churches functioning as a way to orientate yourself. I can spot where my family were running an oil and tallow shop several decades later. Opposite St Leonard's, just a couple of doors south from the junction.
About the lack of water - there was a Holywell Streer in Shoreditch (or Holywell Something) but wasn't it a bit manky? And has now been lost to the railway?
Aha, sounds like where Bar Kick is now. Been in there a few times.
Yes, good point about Holywell. I think Holywell Street followed one of the feeder streams of the River Walbrook. There are hints of it on the map, but it was mostly covered over by this point.
Following you closely.
(3) It amuses my kids to know that daddy likes colouring things in as much as they do.
I had to Smile Out Load when I read that.
Another fascinating article. I love the fact that you are engaging so closely with the map through the act of adding colour. Grateful to benefit from the fruits of your labour.
Thanks Caroline. I’m loving your stuff too - you really bring alive parts of London that most people don’t get to explore. Thank you!
Thank you Matt! Glad to bring lesser known parts of London to wider attention - they have so much personality and atmosphere.
Lovely
Another splendid job.
Your labour of love is a joy to pore over. I am attracted to Turnagain Lane! Do you know what Grus's Rents signifies - was Grus a landlord whose properties were there? Or something else? Would love to know!
Hiya Jo. Good spot. I think you’re right. It’s quite common to see so-and-so’s Rents on the map and I think they’re simply cheap lodgings belonging to the named landlord. It’s an odd name that one, and I can’t turn anything up in the newspaper archives. It may be a mis-spelling.
Any idea what the the ?church on the corner of Gravel and Stoney is? "PM" - M for meeting house of some sort? I don't know what abbreviations Rocque used.
Good question. It’s a Presbyterian meeting house. The map has a key, but it’s on a panel I haven’t got to yet.
Aha, thanks! Good idea, don't reveal the key to the mystery until the last episode.
Wonderful Wednesday has come- its Roque map day. It kind of has a Christmassy feel to it with tis red and green coloring . I have to say that The Dirty Lane is much improved by calling it Boundary Passage though the undersign is still a bit rude I would say. Chat GPT did an alright job making perfect little round trees. It has a purpose in small ,specific doses which you found.
Behued. I like it.